Siloam Springs plant evacuated; 34 hospitalized

Workers reported trouble breathing

The Simmons Chicken Plant in Siloam Springs was evacuated early Saturday morning after a worker reported having trouble breathing inside the building.

Emergency crews transported 34 people to Siloam Springs Regional Hospital with respiratory issues. Officials said 11 of those people were still in the hospital Saturday night.

Greg Neely, Siloam Springs fire chief, said one person was transported to another hospital and the rest went home.

A Siloam Springs firefighter was also hospitalized as a precaution.

“Our battalion chief was listening to the radio and judiciously decided to go down there and do an assessment,” Neely said. “He determined this could be a lot bigger than we initially anticipated.”

Five workers were categorized as immediate or "Red Tag" patients, according to a statement from the City of Siloam Springs. Neely said the fire department responded to a call around 8:30 a.m. about a Simmons employee with breathing problems.

A preliminary investigation revealed a large amount of dry ice came in contact with heated water, creating a plume of gas and making it difficult to breathe.

Investigators did not find any other leaks or gases inside the plant. Fire crews turned the property back over to Simmons Plant officials at 11 a.m.

“We had an entry crew that went in with Simmons plant officials and determined that whatever it was that had caused the incident had dissipated,” Neely said. “We found no other issues with the structure or with any of the systems.”

The plant sent the rest of the staff home and is continuing to check the rest of the building.

Neely said this is the first time the department has ever responded to a call at the Simmons plant.

“I haven’t been there in the ten-and-a-half years I’ve been here,” he said. “They have an on-site hazardous materials team, so they really know those systems and how to take care of those systems.”

Neely said Simmons management let all of the employees who were working when the leak happened go home for the day. He said business has returned to normal for the plant.

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